Vending machine



July 6 1926.

W. G. MATHESON VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19' 1924 2 Shets-Sheat 1 INVEN TOR. 7161a? i fatlzeaom 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1924 fl M JIIJ a v N1 v n w m m J a ma A :3 M. .H 7 w a 4 M Z w w R U \\\\S m a M u 4 i Z N m 2 m a Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES WALTER G. MATI-IESON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,

MATI-IESON.

ASSIGNOR TO GRACE P.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed December 19, 1924. Serial No. 757,042.

This is a check controlled vending machine, and it is the object 01"- the invention to irovide simple but positive means for permitting discharge of a single article at each release of the mechanism.

More particularly it is the object or" the invention to provide a normally locked discharge for the vendible articles adapted to be released by a manually actuated plunger, which is operative only when the proper coin is inserted in the machine, the discharge mechanism being operated after release thereof by a second manual control, and being automatically relocked after discharge of a single article.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a discharge mechanism comprising a. rotatable valve having av plurality of pockets each adapted to receive one of the articles to be vended, said valve having a lock adapted for limited shifting and automatic reengagement at each actuation thereof, so that each time. the lock is operated the valve may be turned just far enough to aline its next succeeding pocket with a discharge spout.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device which will not clog, and having means for agitating the vendible articles so as to insure proper feeding there of to the discharge mechanism.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide for convenient access to the mechanism tor refilling, or-in the event that the mechanism becomes inoperative.

Further objects. of the invention will be readily understood from the following description oi the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, partly broken away.

F is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away.

Figs. 3 and i are transverse sections on the lines 33 and 44.- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5' is a side elevation of the discharge mechanism partly in vertical section.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the lock mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the check control on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

The machine comprises a casing 1 having a removable back 2 and a removable cover plate 3 at the bottom of the front thereof, cover plate 3 having a lock t for retaining the same in place, and the removal of said cover plate permitting access to a money drawer 5 for withdrawing the same, after which a latch 6 for the back 2 is accessible in order to release and remove said back.

The receptacle for the vendible articles and the discharge mechanism for the same form a unitary structure adapted to be in sorted in casing 1 by the removal of back 2. This unitary structure comprises a supporting frame 7 adapted to rest upon the bottom of easing 1, with a base plate 8 mounted on said frame in spaced relation above the bottom of casing 1. l/Valls 9 extend upwardly from the base plate at its front and rear, and are connected at their sides by partitions 10 so as to form a receptacle 11 for the vendible articles, which in the present instance are shown as ballsA of gum or candy. An opening is preferably provided in the rear wall 9 above base plate 8. said opening being closed by a disc 71 at the exterior of said wall, and said disc being rotatable upon a pin 72 for uncovering the opening. Back 2 being removed, the lingers may thus be inserted through opening '70 for manipulating the hereinafter described valve mechanism in receptacle 11, in the event that said valve mechanism becomes cloggedv The partitions 10 are preferably spaced inwardly an appreciable distance from the sides of Walls 9, so as to form elongated recesses which aline with transparent plates 12 in the sides of casing 1 in order that articles of merchandise may be displayed in said recesses. T he display recesses are preterably closed by transparent plates 13 at the fronts thereof, said plates and partitions 10 being shown as removably mounted in receptacle 11 by sliding the same in grooves it formed in Walls 9. I

Base'plate 8 preferably slopes downwardly from the respective sides of receptacle 11 towards its center which is provided with a cylindrical recess 15. The base of this recess has an opening 16 extending therethrough at one side, said opening communicating with a removable discharge spout 17 which may be mounted on frame 7 by a bracket 18, and which discharges through an opening in the side Wall of casing 1 into a tray 19.

A valve 20 having a plurality of periphpockets s forming pockets 21, is jourecess 15, the spaces defined by the walls of said pockets and said recess being each adapted to receive one of the balls A in receptacle Rotation of valve 20 is adapted to successively alinc pockets 21 with upening 16, so the the balls A in. said will b successively discharged through spout 17 into the tray 19, the dis charge through opening 16 of any except the ball in pocket 21 alining with said opening, being prevented by a cover plate 22 mounted on base plate 8 and extending ever the pockets of valve 20 above opening 16, so to close the top of the pocket alining with said opening.

In order to agitate the balls in receptacle 11 and thus insure proper feeding thereof eral rece naled in L to pockets 21-, a cross pin 23 is mounted on the upper end of valve 2Q for rotation therewith; and in order to relieve valve 20 of the weight of the entire volr 1e of balls in the receptacle 11, a baffle 2st 1s mounted in said receptacle in slightly spaced relation above base plate 8, said battle extending to walls 9 and one of the partitions 10, and sloping downwardly toward the opposite partition 10 and spaced therefrom, so that balls A may drop a few at a time onto base plate 8. The baflle 2&- may be slidably mounted in grooves 25 in walls 9.

The rotatable mounting for valve 20 comprises vertical shaft 26 journaled in frame 7 and the base of recess 15, and having valve 1 2O lined on its upper end by set screw 27.

Axial movement of the shaft is thus prevented by the abutment of valve 20 against the base of recess 15, and the valve is adapted to be turned by rotation of the shaft.

A horizontal shaft 28 is also journaleol in frame 7, the end thereof extending to the side wall of easing 1, and a handle 29 for rotating said shaft, which is at the exterior of said casing, has its shank 30 journaled in the side wall of the casing and detachablv connected to shaft 28. In order that handle 29 may be turned only in one direction, a ratchet 31 is fined on shaft 28 and is engaged by a spring pressed pawl 82 mounted on frame 7.

A horizontal bevel gear 33 on shaft 26 meshes with a vertical bevel gear 3% on shaft- 28, said gears being fixed to the shafts by set screws 35 extending through the collars 333'-l thereof. By this arrangement rotation of handle 29 is adapted to turn shaft 26 and valve 20 in the directions of the arrows in Figs. 4 and 7, so as to successively aline the pockets 21 carrying balls A with the discharge opening 16.

Lock mechanism is adapted to hold valve 20 against turning ntii released by operation of the check control, and then permits turning of said valve only a sufficient distance to aline the next succeeding pocket 21 with discharge opening 16. As an instance of this crrangcn'ient a star wheel 36 having cireumfcrentially spaced teeth 87, one for each of the pockets 21, is journaled on the collar 33 of gear 33, beneath the latter, said star wheel having c'ircinnferential slots 38 adapted to receive gins 39 projecting from the underside of gear 33, with the heads of said pins abutting against the walls of said slots to prevent axial displacen'ient of the is adapted to engage the teeth of the star wheel for holding the latter against rota tion.

In operation, the pin %1 in'lpinget by a tooth of the star wheel locks the latter against rotation, the gear 33 having been turned at the previous actuation the discharge mechanism to its forward limit of turning movement relative to the star wheel as shown in Fig. 7, thereby locking gear 33, and maintaining valve 20 in position with a pocket 21 thereof emptied at the previous actuation of the machine, in alincment with discharge opening 16.

When a coin is inserted the check control, the pin l1 is retracted as hereinafter described, thereby releasing the tooth of star wheel 36 so that the latter is turned by its spring 40 to its forward limit or movement relative. to gear 33. The slots 38 are of such length that this movement is just suthcient to clear tooth 3? of the pin 41, which as hereinafter described is immediately automatically again projected into the path of travel of teeth 37.

By turning handle 29, gear 33 and star wh el 36 are then both rotated until the next succeeding tooth 3T abuts agah pin 41 for stopping the star wheel, the contimied turning of the handle, turning the gear relative to the star wheel until said gear again stopped by the abutment of pins 39 against the forward ends of slots 38 as shown in Fi 7, thereby again locking the parts against rotation. The turning of gear 83 as thus described, is just sufficient to 1'0 tate valve 520 so as to move the previously emptied pocket 21 from alinement with discharge 16, and aline the next succeeding pocket carrying a ball A with said discharge, so that said ball will drop througi spout 17 into tray 19.

The mechanism for momentarily retracting pin 4-1 until a tooth of the star wheel has passedbeyond the same, and then again projecting said pin into the path of travel of said teeth, comprises a lever 43 mounted on frame 7 and having the pin 41 connected thereto at a medial point. The lever is fulcrumed at its end upon a horizontal pin 44 and is adapted for axial shifting along said pin. The lever is thus adapted to swing in a vertical plane upon pin 44, and is also adapted to swing in a horizontal plane with pin 41 as an axis, the pin 41 being adapted for turning movement in bearing 42 as well as longitudinal movement therein.

A spring 45 is connected at its respective ends to frame 7 and to the swinging end of lever 43, and is adapted to swing the lever downwardly and transversely. The downward swing of the lever is limited by a stop 46 comprising a pin extending through frame 7 and vertically adjusted by a wing nut 47 threaded thereon. The stop is set to permit downward swing of the lever to a point which will just bring pin 41 into the path of travel of teeth 37. Transverse swinging of the lever is limited by abutment of its end against a supporting bracket 48 for pin 44.

A vertically elongated head 49 is provided on the swinging end of lever 43, and is adapted to be impinged by a horizontal hook 50 on the end of a vertical rod 51 which is slidably mounted in casing 1. As hereinafter described, operation of the check control mechanism is adapted to slide rod 51 downwardly and inwardly toward head 49 at the same time, so that the abutment of the end of hook 50 against said head will swing lever 43 against the action of spring 45, until said hook passes below the head.

The spring 45 will then swing the lever transversely in the opposite direction so that head 49 rests upon hook 50, and the reverse sliding movement of rod 51 which immediately follows, will shift hook 50 upwardly and outwardly, thereby swinging lever 43 upwardly until the hook is moved outwardly beyond head 49. lVhen the lever is thus again released it will be swung downwardly by spring 45 to its original position,

The upward swinging of lever 43 as thus described, is just sufiicient to clear pin 41 of the teeth 37, so that a tooth of the star wheel may pass beyond said pin as pre-' viously set forth, and the downward swinging of lever 43 following immediately thereafter, will again move pin 41 into the path of travel of teeth 37 so as to engage the next following tooth and thereby operate the locking mechanism.

The ope 'ating mechanism for rod 51 comprises a guide 52 on the inner surface of the front of casing 1, said rod extending through said guide and having a cam 53 formed therein and adapted to be engaged. by the end of the guide. A spring 54 normally shifts rod 51 transversely, with the medial depression of cam 53 engaged by guide 52. The check control mechanism is adapted to slide rod 51 downwardly through guide 52 and then immediately retract the same.

When rod 51 is thus depressedthe inclined surface of cam 53 rides along guide 52 so as to transversely shift said rod against the action of spring 54, thereby moving hook 5O downwardly and inwardly at the same time as previously described. As soon as hook 50 engages head 49, sliding movement of rod 51 in the opposite direction, causes the depression of cam 53 to again aline with guide 52, so that spring 5-4 is free to swing said rod transversely in the opposite direction, thereby moving hook 5O upwardly and outwardly so as to release head 49. V

The mechanism for vertically shifting rod 51 in opposite directions, comprises a bell crank lever 55 on the inner surface of the front of easing 1 adjacent its top, the rod 51 and a horizontal slide rod 57 being connected to the respective arms of said lever.

A spring 58 connected to the bell crank lever is adapted to normally swing the same so as to elevate rod 51 and project operating rod 57 through the side of easing 1. It will thus be seen that longitudinal movement of rod 57 will depress rod 51, and subsequent release of said operating rod will return rod 51 to normal position.

Rod 57 is thus longitudinally shifted and then released, by a check control mechanism mounted on the side of casing 1, and which may be of any usual construction. In the present instance the check control is shown as comprising a casing 59 mounted on the side of easing 1 opposite the end of rod 57, said casing having a plate 60 received against the same so as to provide a space for a sliding plunger 61, with a cover plate 62 provided with a coin inlet 63, received over plate 60 so as to provide a space for the edgewise passage of a coin.

A spring 64- between plate 60 and casing 59 is connected to plunger 61 so as to normally project the same above said casing, and a pin 65 on said plunger projects through a slot 66 in plate 60, into the coin passage. A lever 66 is pivoted in the space between plate 60 and cover plate 62 so as to abut against rod 57, said lever having an arm 67 in alinement with the direction of movement of pin 65 but spaced beyond the limit of movement of the same, so that when no coin is inserted, there is no operative connection between pin 65 and lever 66 when the plunger 61 is depressed.

lVhen a coin is inserted through inlet 63 intothe space between plate 60 and cover plate 62, it is guided in its movement by a pin 68 so as to rest upon arm 67 between the latter and pin 65, and depression of plunger 61 will thus cause pin 65 to impinge against the coin and thereby swing lever 66 so as,

to actuate slide rod 57. The swinging oi the lever (136 permits the coin to drop below pin 68, so that the lever is free to return to its normal inoperative position, and the coin falls through its passageway in the check control casing, into a chute 69 communicating therewith and extending downwardly through casing l at the inner surface of the :tront wall thereof, said chute discharging into the money drawer beneath the same.

It will thus be seen that until the proper coin inserted in the machine, the discharge valve 20 remains, locked, and that the insertion of a coin permits actuation oi. rod 57 by depressii'ig plunger (ll, so as to lower rod 51 and thus release the lot-lung mechanism. so that valve 20 may be turned by handle 29 for the discharge of a single ball A from the receptacle ll. As soon as rod. 57 is thus actuated, the coin drops below lever 6:6 for releasing said rod, and spring 58 will then return rod 51 to its elevated position so as to lock the parts and prevent turning of valve 20 for dischar from more than one of the pockets 21.

I claim:

l. A. vending machine com tirising a ceptacle having a discharge, a valve for said discharge, a member adapted for lin'iited movement relative to said valve, a loci: for said member, check controlled means for momentarily releasing the lock, means for rc-engaging the lock after said momentary release, means for shifting the member during said release, and means for moving the valve in accordance with the shifting of the member so, as to open the valve and then reclose the same.

2. It vending machine comprising a receptacle having a discharge, a rotatable valve for said discharge, a men'iber adapted for limited rotation relative to said valve, means for locking said member, check controlled means for momentarily releasing said lock, means for re-engaging the loci: after said momentary release, means for auton'iatically rotating said member relative to said valve durin said n'iomentary release, and means for turning said valve to ,lLS limit movement relative to said member ter O: 51 said rotation of the latter. said turning oi said valve opening said discharge and then rec-losing the same.

3. A vending machine comprising a receptacle, a discharge for said receptacle, a valve for said discharge, a lock for said valve including a pin adapted to release said lock by retraction of said pin and then reengage said lock by subsequent projection of said pin, a lever supporting said pin, check controlled means, and a rod shifted longitudinally and to one side and then longitudinally in the opposite direction and to the opposite side by said check cont-rolled means for hooking said rod beneath said lever, swinging the same to retract said pin, and then releasing said lever to permit swinging thereof in the opposite direction for projecting said pin.

4. A vending machine comprising a receptacle having a discharge, a rotatable valve having a plurality of pockets adapted to successively aline with said discharge, a member adapted for limited rotation relative to said valve, a pin for locking said member against rotation, a lever supporting said pin, check controlled means, a rod shifted longitudinally and to, one side and then longitudinally in the opposite direction and to the opposite side by said check con trolled means for hooking said; rod beneath said lever, swinging the same to retract said pin from said rotatable member, and then releasing said lever, means tending to swing sa d lever in the opposite direction for projecting said pin, means for automatically turning said rotatable member relative to,

said valve when said pin is retracted, the subsequent projection of said pin reengaging said rotatable member, and means for turning said valve to its limit of movement relative to said rotatable men'iber after said rotation of the latter, said turning of the valve alining the nex succeeding pocket thereoi with said discharge.

5. A vending machine comprising a receptacle having a discharge, a rotatable valve for said discharge, men s for preventing rotation of said valve in one direction, a star wheel adapted for limited rotation relative to said valve in the opposite direction, a pin adapted to engage a tooth of said star wheel for locking the same against rotation at its rearward limit of movement relative to said valve, check controlled means for retracting said pin, means for rotating said star wheel to its forward limit of movement relative to said valve (linking rctraction of said pin, means for subsequently projecting said pin so to engage the next following tooth of said star wheel for loclring the latter, and means for turning said valve to its forward limit of movement relative to said star wheel after said rotation of the latter, said turning of said valve opening said discharge and then reclosing the same.

6. A vending machine comprising a receptacle havinga discharge, a valve for said discharge, a lock for said valve including a pin adapted to release said lock by retraction of said pin and then reengage said lock by subsequent projection of said pin, a lever supporting said pin, said lever being mounted for swinging movement in planes at right angles to one another, the swinging of said lever in one plane retracting and projecting said pin, a hook raving the end thereof normally abutting against the swingtill Elli] ing end of said lever, check controlled means for shifting said hook longitudinally and to one side for swinging said lever in one direction in the other plane, means for swinging said lever in the opposite direction in said other plane after movement of said hook beyond the swinging end ofsaid lever whereby the latter is positioned on said hook, means for then shifting said hook longitudinally in the opposite direction and to the other side for swinging said lever in the first plane so as to retract said pin and then disengage said hook from said lever, and means for swinging said lever in the opposite direction in said first plane after disengagen'ient of said hook for projecting said pin.

7. A vending machine comprising a receptacle having a discharge, a valve for said discharge, a lock for said valve including a pin adapted to release said look by retraction of said pin and then reengage said look by projection of said pin, a lever supporting said pin, an operating rod, check controlled means for longitudinally shifting said rod in one direction, means for longitudinally shii'iting said rod in the opposite direction upon disengagement of said check controlled means, a cam adapted to move said rod transversely in opposite directions during shifting of said rod longitudinally in reverse directions, a hook on said rod, said movement of said rod engaging said hook beneath said lever, swinging said lever so as to retract said pin, and then releasing said lever so as to permit swinging thereof in the opposite direction for projecting said pin.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

WALTER G. MATHESONL 

